Set fourteen years after the end of the Clone Wars and the rise of the Galactic Empire we are introduced to Ezra Bridger; a fourteen year old Force-sensitive orphan living in an abandoned communications tower on the Outer Rim planet Lothal. Upon witnessing a group of rebels led by Kanan Jarrus, a former Jedi Padawan who survived the destruction of the Jedi Order, hijacking a small Imperial speeder convoy, Ezra decides to help himself to some of the supplies being stolen. After being pursued by Imperial troops and TIE fighters, and with more Imperials closing in, Kanan offers Ezra a chance to escape aboard the rebels' ship, the Ghost. Ezra accepts, a choice that ends with him becoming part of the rebel crew as they are trying to rescue Wookiee slaves that are being taken by the Empire to the spice mines of Kessel, and brings him into the crosshairs of Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau.

Tropes in this episode:

Adaptation Expansion: The Rebellion Begins expands on the events leading up to and behind the scenes seen in this episode. Not only does it give insight on what characters are thinking during the scenes, but it also includes scenes such as:

The Ghost crew coming across the aftermath of the Wookiees' abduction and how they need to talk to Vizago again back on Lothal, giving some background on how the crew knew about the Wookiees and Vizago.

Ezra doing a job for Slyyth (an original character not seen in the show) stealing a shipment of Imperial helmets, but accidentally stealing a shipment of holopads with Imperial propaganda instead.

Air Vent Escape: Played with. When Ezra tries this on the Ghost, they can hear him shuffling around in the vents and catch him easily. On an Imperial Star Destroyer, he's able to move around freely.

Arc Symbol: Not really a symbol, but whenever the story takes place on Lothal in the novelization, the green of the grass and the grass itself are continuously brought up, in relation to Ezra's Character Development from being cynical and hopeless to finding hope and a brighter future throughout the episode. Kallus also mentions he's going to make Lothal's grasslands bleed red when he eliminates the rebels, obviously referring to the bloodshed and law he will carry out in the name of the Empire.

Ask a Stupid Question...: Ezra rhetorically asks Hera who would risk everything to save others at no benefit to themselves, while in the middle of a mission to do exactly that. Hera of course replies, "We would."

Bad Boss: Kallus kicks off a Stormtrooper hanging onto the pole beneath him for wisecracking about Kanan making Kallus look like an idiot.

The ABC cut begins with the Inquisitor being given his mission, and ends with Kallus calling him.

In the novelization, Ezra's prologue begins with him noting the green grasslands of Lothal, and how he's never going to go offworld. After Kanan talks to him in his tower and leaves, Ezra notes that the green daisies are in full bloom.

Brief Accent Imitation: Ezra imitates Supply Master Lyste's space-English accent over Aresko's stolen comlink in order to lure Aresko, Grint and their stormtroopers away from an innocent fruit vendor they were arresting.

Butt-Monkey: Several Stormtroopers on Lothal get run over by Ezra. One of them gets back on his feet — and then Kanan knocks him back down.

Chekhov's Gun: In the novelization, Ezra hears a complaint from a cadet how Lyste threatened to get them transferred to the spice mines of Kessel if they screwed up again.

Crapsack World: Lothal really went to hell after the Empire marched in and took over.

Cover-Blowing Superpower: Kanan brandishing that lightsaber when extricating the Wookiee prisoners basically said "HELLO IMPERIALS I AM A JEDI HUNT ME DOWN". Even the Wookiees looked on in awe when the saber lit up.

Ezra: Care to let me in on the secret? Kanan: Kid, I'm about to let everyone in on the secret!

Early Installment Weirdness: Given the reveals about the Cleansing of Lasan and Kallus' involvement in it in the next episode, it's strange that Kallus doesn't react to Zeb's presence, especially during the scene where he captures Ezra. It's also odd that Kallus doesn't use his bo-rifle, particularly given that in the scene just before he boards the transport ship, he can be seen carrying it on his back.

Flirting Under Fire: Ezra tries to flirt with Sabine while she's shooting down TIE fighters, which she responds to by rolling her eyes and getting back to shooting.

Full-Name Ultimatum: Hera does this to Zeb when he's being evasive about what happened to Ezra.

Funny Background Event: In Kallus' first scene, after he tells Aresko that "You're not the first on Lothal hit by this crew", Aresko says in response, "That's a relief," and the stormtrooper behind him turns towards him with somewhat surprised body language.

The Guards Must Be Crazy: Ezra tricks two Stormtroopers into thinking he is sick, causing them to come into the cell while he is hiding behind the steps. He then runs out and locks them in. They have difficulty explaining to their superior exactly how he escaped.

Gunship Rescue: The Ghost does this twice — the first time, saving Ezra on Lothal; the second time, saving the Wookies on Kessel.

Hope Bringer: Kallus' metaphor for the Ghost crew, a "spark of rebellion", is this . . .

Hope Crusher: . . . And describing the Empire's power that will "snuff out that spark" is a metaphor for this. If anything, in the novelization, after his little speech to Aresko about it, he drills in the point by stepping on a piece of smoldering metal, crushing it to ash.

Hera: We'll get you home now. Your parents must be worried sick. Ezra: I don't have parents.

My Significance Sense Is Tingling: Ezra and Kanan briefly sense each other on Lothal. Ezra later senses the holocron and Kanan's lightsaber, which Kanan was counting on. He also senses that something's coming right before a Star Destroyer drops out of hyperspace.

The gang tries to pass off Zeb as a "rare, hairless Wookiee". Zeb's design was based on unused concept art for our favorite Wookiee, Chewie.

Obi-Wan declares that one day, a new hope will emerge to triumph over the Dark Side.

No Gravity for You: Sabine and Chopper disable the gravity on a prisoner transport to trip up some Stormtroopers.

No-Sell: Kanan, as he reveals himself to be a Jedi. Rather than acting like a normal person and hide from the blaster fire, he stands up and starts walking through it. No fancy Jedi acrobatics for him: he just . . . shrugs to the side.

Off-Model: During the scene where Lyste is first seen, when Ezra's watching Aresko and Grint confront him over his supposed Code Red from the rooftop, his hair is white-blond as opposed to the black it is in all subsequent appearances.

Oh, Crap!: The only time Kallus shows any sign of fear or hesitation is when Kanan reveals he's a Jedi.

Perspective Reversal: In the novelization's original scenes (which are part of the prologue), Ezra's POV starts off by noting that Lothal is said to be known for its green grasslands, but he wouldn't know himself, as he's never been offworld (yet). The next part of the prologue takes place from Kallus' POV, which ends with Kallus noting Lothal's green grasslands, and that to eliminate the rebels on Lothal, he's going to make those lands bleed red.

Recut: ABC's airing of the movie added a scene involving the Inquisitor and Darth Vader.

Secret Test of Character: Kanan allows Ezra to steal his holocron as a test to see if Ezra can open it (only Force users can do so).

The Slow Walk: Kanan does this when he's about to bust out the lightsaber on Kallus and his troopers in the Kessel battle, complete with a Nonchalant Dodge as a blaster bolt whizzes just past his head.

Stealth Hi/Bye: Kanan does this twice to Ezra at his tower near the end of the episode.

Stunned Silence: Kallus is briefly rendered speechless when Kanan ignites his lightsaber. As is everyone else.

Tempting Fate: While they're on the transport ship, as Kanan's planting the detonator on the door controls of the room where the Wookiee prisoners are being held, Zeb comments "At least things seem to be going smoother than our last op." At which point Ezra runs up to tell them it's a trap, and the door opens to reveal a squad of stormtroopers.

Think Nothing of It: The "I really don't deserve it" variant, when Ezra stands by the crates of food the Ghost crew brought to Tarkintown. The locals genuinely thank him, and he's uncomfortable as he did nothing to deserve it.

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